Tank-car.



3. GBEER.

1 TANK CAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I9. 19%.).

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

' attained, to be hereinafter described and that l'll

TEXT reins.

JAMES GREEK, or

EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 HIMSELF, AND MAURICE W. COLLINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TANK-CAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7,11%15.

Applica ion filed March 19', 1915. Serial No. 15 652.

and useful Improvement in Tank-Cars, of.

which the following is'a specification.

The invention relates to railway tank cars in which oils or other liquids are transported in bulk, and more particularly to the valved outlet or delivery nozzle with which such cars are equipped.

In the usual type of tank-car the nozzle is on the under face of' the tank and is controlled by a loose vertically movable valve operated by a valve-rod extending upwardly through the tank and its contents to a handle located in a dome on the upper face of the tank. The lower end 'of the nozzle is screw-threaded andreceives a cap screwed thereon to insure against leakage. It frequently happens that the valve is not properly seated, or by reason of accident or carelessness, is entirely disconnected from its seat and the contents is retained solely by the cap which permits the car to be transported with no indication that it is not in good order; but on removing the cap in making the required connections in emptygushes out w' h such'force that it is impossible to again replace the cap, and the result is a great waste of the contained liquid with the added dang ing at the po'pnt of destination, the contents er of fire if the contents be oil whichis the liquid mainly transported in cars of this character.

The object of the invTention is to provide the nozzle with an indicating means by which the condition of the valve may be ascertained before the cap is removed, and to provide ELISIIHPIG, inexpensive and cii cient form of indicator adapted to withstand successfully the rough usage to which mechanism of this class is subjected in service.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement by which the above objects are claimed. j

The accom any ng drawings form a part of his speci cation and show the inventlon as it hasbeen carried out in practice.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in a portion of a tankvertical section, showin and in the car equipped with the lnvention I so joined as plan view of the same parts. Fig. 6 is a.

horizontal section taken onthe line 6-6 in Fig. 4. imilar letters 'of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures. 1

is the tank, of cylindrical form dis: posed horizontally on a car-frame and trucks, not shown, and A is the dome on the upper face of the tank, having a removable cover A On the lower face is the outlet pipe or delivery nozzle B containing a valve B matching to a conical seat at B on the upper end of the nozzle and having guide-wings B within the latter serving to guide the valve in its vertical movements. 0 is a valve-rod joined to the upper end of the valve by a pivot connection at C- and extending vertically through the tank into the dome, passing through a bracket 0 secured to the inner face of the dome and equipped, in the form shown, with a handle 0 by which the valve may be lifted from its seat in opposition to the force of a helical spring C inclosing the upper portion of the rod and abutting at one end against a collar C thereon and at the upper end against the bracket (P. All these parts may beunderstood to be of the usual or any approved construction.

lhe nozzle B is screw-threaded exteriorly at the lower end and receives a cap D screwed thereon to prevent the oil or other liquid escaping through a leaky valve froin spraying along the riglit-of-way while ti o car is in transit. The cap has a squared or hexagonalboss D on the lower face by which it may be strongly screwed home by the application of a suitable wrench to compress an annular gasket D interposed'between the lower end of the nozzle and interior face of the cap and thus make a tight joint. The cap is ordinarily a simple closed cup and is fixed portion of the frame by a chain D to permit the cap to be applied or removed without danger of displacement or loss when separated.

The essential feature of the invention is in Y connected to the tank or head F at the lower end affords means for providing ably in t e cap, and providing a controlling means for such orifice, whereby the communication with'the interior of the-nozzle may be gradually established and the condition of the valve thus ascertained. If there be no escape of liquid, the valve is obviously properly seated and the cap may be removed safely to make the usual tank connection through which the car is emptied; or, if.

the flow be slight, it indicates a leaky or defective valve seating, but may not prevent making the tank connections; but if the v liguid flows with great force it is evident located open slots or ports f at the bottom of such recess. A squared or hexagonal turning it and thus raising or lowering it relatively to the cap when the latter is in place on the nozzle.- The plug is preferably tapered slightly so as to make a liquid-tight joint when forcibly screwed home and toturn easily when partly lowered. By thus. slackening the plug and slowly lowering it the ports f f are gradually uncovered below the under face of the cap and communica r'tion thus established between the interior and exterior of the nozzle, and liquid in the nozzle below the valve may thusescape, the flow being readily controlled by varying the position of the plug and correspondingly varying the exposed area of the ports.

To prevent complete separation of the plug and consequent danger of loss, a narrow lock-nut or collar F is screwed upon the upper end after its insertion in the cap.

The collar is held against unscrewing by one or more rivets F extending through the collar and the annular Wallv at that'end of the plug. By thus preventing the removal of the plug all danger of cross-threading by imperfect replat lnent is also eliminated.

The operation is as follows z-Assuining the tank to be full and placed for unloading, the operator unscrews theplug sufficiently to bring the ports below the cap and thus ascertain whether the valve is unseated or defective. This will be indicated-by the leakage of liquid through the ports. Should. there be no leakageth'e cap may be safely removed, with the-plug, and the usual tank connections In de'with the nozzle. Should the indicator s ow an-abnormal leakage the operator may endeavor by manipulating the an orifice in the nozzle, or prefer-i valve-rod C throughthe dome cover to close the valve, or if the latter is outiof place to re-seat it; if successful the flow through the indicator will ceaseand'the tank connections may be made. Should such efforts prove unsuccessful it will be dangerous to attempt to empty the tank and the indicator maybe again screwed home and the tank returned to the consignor with contents intact.

Modifications may be made within wide limits Without departing from the invention. Other means may be emploiyedto con-' trol the orifice and serve to showthe condition of the valve. The plugjform' is preferred on account of its efliciency andextreme simplicity together with its ability to endure rough handling without serious damage.

' --I claim: 1'. Ina tank car having a delivery nozzle and a valve fitted to a seat on the upper end mally controlling the outlet from said nozzle, and means independent ofthe firstnamed means adjustable lengthwise of the nozzle and providing an auxiliary} outlet from the nozzle to permit a fiow of the liquid from the nozzle through said first-mentioned means.

3. In a tank-car having a delivery nozzle and a valve controlling the flow of liquid latternormally closing the outlet thereof, a plug in said cap having an orifice communicating with the interior of said nozzle below said valve and forming an auxiliary outlet from the nozzle, and means for operating such plug.

4:. In a tank carhaving a delivery nozzle and'a valve ontrolling the flow of liquid from said tan to said nozzle, a cap for the latter normally closing the outlet thereof, a plug in said; cap having an orifice communicating with the interior of said nozzle below said'valveand forming an auxiliary outlet from thenozzle, saidplug controlling the flow of liquid from the interior of the nozzle.

form said tank to said nozzle, a cap for the latter normally closing the outlet thereof, a plug in said cap having an orifice communicating with the interior of said nozzle below the valve, said plug controlling the flow of liquid from the interior of the nozzle, said plug having ports forming an auxiliary'outfrom the tank to said nozzle, means nor-.,

'from said tank to said nozzle, a cap-for the 5. In a tank-car having a delivery nozzle and a va lve controlling the flow of liquid let from the nozzle, and adapted to permit an adjustable flow of liquid from said nozzle.

6. In a tank-car having a delivery nozzle and a valve controlling the flow of liquid from said tank to said nozzle, a cap for the latter normally closing the outlet there0f,a plug in said cap having an orifice communicating with the interior of said nozzle below the valve, said plug controlling the flow of liquid from the interior of the nozzle, said plug having ports forming an auxiliary outlet from the nozzle, and adapted to permit an adjustable flow of liquid from said nozzle, and means for preventing withdrawal of the plug from the cap.

7. In a tank-car having a delivery nozzle and a valve controlling the How of liquid from said tank to said nozzle, a closing cap for. the latter having an orifice therein communicating with the interior of said nozzle below said valve, a screw-plug in such" orifice, having a recess in its end and ports leading from said recess to the exterior of said plug within said nozzle, and a collar on the inner end of said plug to prevent its disengagement from said cap, such ports and recess arranged to permit a variable flow of liquid from the interior of said nozzle by partially removing said plug.

In testimony that I claim the invention ELbOVG set forth I affix my signature, in pres ence of two Witnesses.

JAMES GREEK.

Witnesses 1 CHARLES R. SEARLE, HELEN V, RICE.

flopies of this patent may be obtained 'fgr five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.- 

